Beginning in the late 1940s and 1950s, the Chinese government sought to integrate different approaches to qigong into a coherent system with the intention of creating a solid scientific basis for the practice of qigong. In 1949, Liu Guizhen established the name «Qigong» to refer to the system of life-sustaining practices that he and his collaborators developed on the basis of Dao Yin and other philosophical traditions. [16] This experiment is considered by some sinologists to be the beginning of modern or scientific interpretation of qigong. [17] [18] [19] During the Great Leap Forward (1958-1963) and the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), Qigong, along with other traditional Chinese medicines, were under strict control with limited access for the general public, but were promoted in state rehabilitation centers and spread to universities and hospitals. After the Cultural Revolution, Qigong, along with T`ai Chi, became popular as a daily morning exercise that was practiced en masse throughout China. In Confucianism, practices now known as Confucian Qigong provide a way to become a junzi (君子) through moral awareness. [63] [64] In Buddhism, meditative practices now known as Buddhist Qigong are part of a spiritual path that leads to spiritual enlightenment or Buddhahood. [62] Qigong exercises are usually based on the union of movement, breathing and attention. Our body learns and expresses balance and harmony to develop health and treat diseases that are themselves a kind of imbalance. The bang stick and ruler focus the mind on the body and combine physical movement. Holding and manipulating the stick or ruler pushes and massages acupuncture points and channels, which helps balance the body. It also helps students calm their minds, attract attention, and be in the moment. Scientists interested in qigong have tried to describe or verify the effects of qigong, explore mechanisms of action, form a scientific theory regarding qigong, and identify appropriate research methods for further studies.

[56]: 81-89 In terms of traditional theory, the existence of Qi in an experimental setting has not been independently verified. [71] In any event, some studies have reported effects on pathophysiological parameters of biomedical interest. [72] [73] Qigong (/ˈtʃiːˈɡɒŋ/),[1] qi gong, chi kung, chi `ung or chi gung (simplified Chinese: 气功; traditional Chinese: 氣功; pinyin: qìgōng; Wade–Giles: ch`i kung; lit. Life energy culture is a coordinated system of posture and movement, breathing, and meditation[2] used for health, spirituality, and martial arts training. [3] With roots in Chinese medicine, philosophy, and martial arts, qigong is traditionally considered by the Chinese and throughout Asia as a practice for cultivating and balancing qi (pronounced roughly as «chi» or «chee»), translated as «vital energy.» [4] Qigong is practiced for meditation and self-cultivation as part of various philosophical and spiritual traditions. As a meditation, qigong is a way to calm the mind and enter a state of consciousness that brings serenity, clarity and bliss. [13] Many practitioners find Qigong with its gentle and concentrated movement more accessible than sedentary meditation. [54] The popularity of Qigong grew rapidly during the Deng and Jiang eras after Mao Zedong`s death in 1976 until the 1990s, with estimates of 60 to 200 million practitioners across China. Along with the popularity and sanctions of the state, there have been controversies and problems: claims of extraordinary abilities bordering on the supernatural, pseudo-scientific explanations to enhance credibility,[20] a mental state called qigong deviation,[19] the formation of sects, and the exaggeration of masters` claims for personal gain. [8] [21] In 1985, the state-run National Qigong Science and Research Organization was established to regulate the country`s qigong denominations. [22] In 1999, in response to the widespread revival of ancient traditions of spirituality, morality, and mysticism and the perceived challenges of state control, the Chinese government took steps to impose control over the public practice of qigong, including the closure of qigong clinics and hospitals and the banning of groups such as Zhong Gong and Falun Gong.

[10]: 161-174 [23] Since the 1999 suppression, qigong research and practice has only been officially supported in the context of health and traditional Chinese medicine. .